After blowing out their head coach and general manager midway through the 2024 season and hiring Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey to take their place this offseason, the New York Jets have allowed their new regime to make many other changes.
The biggest of the moves involving the roster came back in March when New York announced the release of four-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers after just two seasons.
To take Rodgers' place, the Jets targeted former Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, inking the former first-round pick to a two-year, $40 million deal at the start of free agency.
While many believed that this contract would buy Fields at least two years as the starter with his new team, some think he'll be replaced after one. College Football Network's Max Dorsey ran an early mock for the 2026 NFL draft this week, which projected that New York will take quarterback Drew Allar in the first round (No. 2 overall).
Allar, 21, was a five-star recruit out of Medina High School in Medina, Ohio, and committed to Penn State during his junior season.
After spending the 2022 season as Sean Clifford's backup, Allar took over in 2023, leading the Nittany Lions to a 10-3 record while completing 59.9% of his passes for 2,631 yards, 25 touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 206 yards and four scores.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
This past year, Allar started 16 games for Penn State, bringing them to a 13-3 record and completing 66.5% of his passes for 3,327 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions while adding another 302 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
Allar will be starting for the Nittany Lions again in 2024 and will need to have a stellar year to be the second quarterback taken in what's expected to be a strong class for the position.
If Fields does his job this year, New York probably won't be in position to draft a quarterback that early, and if that's the case, they may not want to. They may, instead, be thinking about a long-term extension for the former Buckeye.
MORE NEW YORK JETS NEWS
Giants could sign 5-time Pro Bowl linebacker amid Bobby Okereke uncertainty
Bears trade pitch lands Jets projected $28 million playmaker to help Caleb Williams
Jets predicted to sign former $100 million wide receiver as Garrett Wilson running mate
Jets record predictions for 2025 see New York still underachieving despite massive changes
Jets rookie Armand Membou draws lofty expectation from NFL insider